Tough times for LAFD

[DWC295 70]

Interesting article looking at how things are going for LAFD.

My link

[sfrd18 360]

It's really a shame, considering that the LAFD is one of the largest and greatest fire departments in the country, that responds to well over 440,000 emergency calls annually. The article stated that department morale is now at an all-time low.

For a little background, as of today, there are 106 Fire Stations in the city, spread out in 2 Divisions(North and South), each commanding 7 Battalions. There are currently 130 Engines, 40 Trucks, 136 ALS and BLS Ambulances, 4 Squads(Haz-Mat./Special Units), 1 Heavy Rescue, 2 USAR Units, 7 Helicopters, and 5 Fireboats, as well as numerous other special support and reserve units. The LAFD utilizes the Task Force and Light Force concepts. A Task Force often responds together and consists of an Engine Company staffed by four firefighters, and a Light Force Company, which is made of up a Pump(200 Series) Engine Company and a Truck Company. The Pump Engine is staffed with one firefighter and the Truck Company is staffed with five. The Pump and Truck always respond to all calls together. When a Light Force responds by itself, the fifth man on the Truck jumps on the Pump, bumping up staffing on the Pump to two. The Engine and the Light Force(the Task Force) as considered two separate resources by the LAFD.

Task Forces are housed together in the same stations. The whole concept was introduced in the '60's as a result of the Watts Riots. The idea was that more units and firefighters could respond at the same time to incidents, thus safety in numbers, and a quicker rate of suppression.

As of last July, due to budget cuts, the city closed 2 Battalions(there were originally 16 Battalions, now there is 14) and 1 Division(originally 3 Divisions, now down to 2), spreading out their Fire Stations into the remaining Battalions and the Battalions into the remaining Divisions. Additionally, 11 Engines, 8 "200 Series" Pump Engines, and 7 Trucks(thus, 7 Light Forces) were all closed. Two ambulances were added. I also believe manning was cut, but I'm not sure. Although no Fire Stations were closed per se, that's a lot of resources eliminated.

Hopefully, the LAFD can pull out of and overcome these tough times.

[DWC295 70]

Second story from LA Times.

My link